The Winter’s Tale

William Shakespeare

The Winter's Tale Summary

Without any good cause, Leontes, King of Sicilia, suddenly comes to believe that his wife
Hermione is having an adulterous affair with his best friend Polixenes, King of Bohemia. He
orders Camillo, his trusted friend and advisor, to poison Polixenes. Camillo is torn between
loyalty to his king and following his conscience. He chooses his conscience, and rather than
obey his king he helps Polixenes to escape back to Bohemia.

When he hears of their flight, Leontes is convinced that his wife and his two best friends have
been plotting against him. He has Hermione, who is pregnant, thrown into jail. Hermione has
the baby while imprisoned. Paulina, a fearless noblewoman loyal to the queen, brings the baby
to Leontes in hopes that the sight of the child will bring the king to his senses. Instead, the king
orders Paulina's husband, Antigonus, to abandon the child in a remote area. If he does not do
so, Paulina will be executed. Heartsick, Antigonus goes to do as the king commands. Hermione
is put on trial. There is no real evidence, but Leontes has dispatched messengers to the oracle
of Apollo at Delphos. The oracle proclaims Hermione innocent; it also warns that Leontes will
be without an heir until the infant daughter is found. Leontes rejects the news, and a servant
enters to tell him that Prince Mamillius has died. Leontes repents; Hermione dies of grief.

Meanwhile, Antigonus takes the baby to Bohemia. In a dream, Hermione's ghost names the
child Perdita and tells Antigonus that because of his part in the abandonment of the child, he
will never be allowed to see his wife again. Antigonus is eaten by a bear. The little girl, along
with the gold and tokens left with her, is found by a Shepherd and his son. The Shepherd vows
to raise her as his own.

Father Time, the Chorus, announces the passage of sixteen years. We are now in Bohemia,
where Camillo has served the King of Bohemia since their flight from Sicilia. Camillo now longs
to return home to see his country and the now-penitent king he left behind. Polixenes simply
cannot do without the able administrator. He persuades Camillo to go with him in disguise to
the house of the Sheperd's daughter that the king's son, Prince Florizell, has reputedly been
visiting.
Autolycus, a likable rogue dismissed from service to Prince Florizell, swindles the Shepherd's
Son out of some cash. He hears of the upcoming sheep shearing festival, and he resolves to use
the celebration to con more money out of the revelers.

Florizell and Perdita talk before the festival. The two youngsters are obviously deeply in love,
although Perdita is afraid of what will happen if the king finds out about their relationship. At
the festival, Florizell declares his love for the shepherdess in front of his disguised father. The
outraged king threatens to disown Florizell and execute Perdita before storming off in anger.
Camillo promises to help the two young lovers; he tells them to go to the court of King Leontes,
who will receive them as honored guests. He calls on Autolycus, who has been swindling guests
at the festival, to change clothes with the prince so that Florizell can escape the country
incognito. Afterward, the Shepherd and his son, fearing for the safety, discuss ways to approach
the king with the news that Perdita is a foundling. Autolycus overhears them, and he hopes to
win advancement by helping his prince. He pretends to be an important courtier and promises
to bring them to the king.

In Sicilia, Paulina convinces the king never to marry again unless she chooses the bride. Florizell
and Perdita arrive, and Leontes greets them warmly. But a messenger arrives soon afterward,
telling Leontes that Polixenes has arrived searching for his son. Leontes promises to be
Florizell's advocate. In the next scene, through a conversation between three gentleman and
Autolycus, we hear of how Perdita's true parentage was revealed. With all present, the
Shepherd and the Shepherd's Son produced the items found with Perdita, which prove without
a doubt that she is Leontes' long lost daughter. The two royal families and their closest friends
and advisors go to Paulina's house, where an artist has crafted a beautiful statue of Hermione.
While they are viewing the statue, Paulina brings Hermione to life, miraculously resurrecting
the queen. The reunited families and their friends go to talk of all that has happened in the
sixteen years that they have been apart.

Character List
Leontes, King of Sicilia

Husband of Hermione, father of Perdita. Leontes' delusional conviction that his wife and best
friend have become lovers causes all of the problems of the play. He abuses his authority as
king, bringing ruin and eventual death on his blameless wife and son, as well as the loss of his
infant daughter. He grieves for sixteen years, until his wife and daughter are miraculously
restored to him.
Hermione, Queen of Sicilia
Blameless queen and loving mother, Hermione is a model of passive virtue and forgiveness.
Obedient to her husband's wishes and ultimately loyal to him despite his treatment of her, she
bears his outrageous tyranny with dignity and strength. She dies of grief and shock after her son
dies, but at the end of the play she is miraculously restored by Paulina.
Perdita, Princess of Sicilia
A foundling abandoned in the wilds of Bohemia by the tyrannous order of her father, Perdita
grows to strength and beauty under the roof of the kindly Shepherd who finds her. She is
unaware of her royal parentage, and lives happily in an idyllic world of sheep tending and rural
festivals. Her romance with Bohemia's prince threatens her safety, and she is forced to flee with
him to Sicilia.

Mamillius, Prince of Sicilia

Praised by all at court as a boy of great promise, Mamillius is the charming and beloved heir of
the Sicilian throne. Still a young child, he dies from worry during his mother's trial.
Polixenes, King of Bohemia
Polixenes, best friend of Leontes since boyhood, is targeted for assassination by Sicilia's king in
the first act. Leontes believes that Polixenes has become Hermione's lover. Later, Polixenes' son
Florizell falls in love with Perdita. Polixenes becomes furious that his son is planning to marry a
commoner, and he threatens the girl with execution.
Florizell, Prince of Bohemia

Florizell is willing to abandon his throne to marry Perdita. A wholesome, loyal youth, his
devotion for Perdita is beyond question.
Paulina
Wife of Antigonus and lady at the Sicilian court, Paulina becomes Leontes' most important
advisor after the king becomes penitent for his previous tyrannous behavior. Fearless and
sharp-tongued, she confronts the king fiercely when he is caught in his delusions about
Hermione. At the end of the play, her magic restores the queen.
Camillo

Competent administrator and trusted friend, Camillo is a lord first in the service of Leontes and
then in the service of Polixenes. When Leontes orders him to poison Bohemia's king, Camillo
chooses the dictates of his conscience over obedience.
Antigonus
Husband of Paulina, Antigonus is a decent man who tries ineffectively to bring Leontes back to
reason. Under oath to obey his king, Antigonus carries the infant Perdita to the wilds of
Bohemia and abandons her. The gods punish him for his part in the unjust act, and he is eaten
by a bear.
Shepherd
This kindly old man finds the infant Perdita and raises her as his own child. For his kindness, he
is richly rewarded by King Leontes.
Shepherd's Son
Called "Clown" in some editions, the Shepherd's Son is a rustic and naïve man whose bumbling,
rural ways provide comic relief. He is duped by Autolycus.

Autolycus
Formerly in the service of Florizell, Autolycus is now a rogue who cons innocents out of their
money. Yet he, too, proves loyal to his prince. Because of his actions, Perdita's true identity is
uncovered.
Mopsa and Dorcas

Two country girls involved with the Shepherd's Son.

Emilia
Lady-in-waiting to Hermione.
Cleomenes and Dion

Lords in the Sicilian court, Cleomenes and Dion are sent by Leontes to consult the oracle of
Apollo.
Jailer
Hermione's jailer. He allows Paulina to speak with Emilia, and he also allows Paulina to take the
baby to Leontes.
Officer at the Court
Officer who works at Hermione's trial.
Archidamus

Bohemian courtier staying as a guest in Sicilia.

Mariner
Sailor on the ship that carries Antigonus and Perdita to Bohemia.

Various Lords, Ladies, Gentlemen, and Servants at the Sicilian Court

Various Shepherds, Shepherdesses, and Men Dressed as Satyrs

Discuss The Winter's Tale as a tragi-comedy.

The Winter's Tale is a romance. The play belongs to the fourth phase of Shakesheare
dramatic career. The plays of this period include Pericles, The Winter's Tale,
Cymbelineand The Tempest. These plays are alsodescribed by certain critics as tragi-
comedies. They bring in a new concept of drama or romance different from Shakespeare's
earlier comedies or even tragedies. Shakespeare composed these plays in forties at a
mature age in serene surroundings of his native place Stratford.
The beautiful pastoral scene (Act IV) in The Winter 's Tale with the sheep-shearing
festival with graceful innocent Perdita as hostess serving, singing and dancing with
shepherds and shepherdesses are reminiscent of rural England. In these plays
Shakespeare gives full vent to his fancy of logic, unities or natural causation. Arthur
Symons writes, "The Winter's Tale is a typical romantic drama. The winter's dream when
nights are longest, constructed in defiance of probabilites which it rids over happily. It
hasall the licence and it has all the charm of a fairy- tale...". There are unbelievable
incidents, super-naturalism, but the drama is delightful.
Subject Matter
The Winter s Tale is concerned with the theme of forgiveness and reconciliation .
regeneration and redemption; so the drama knits together human bonds, unites parted
friends and relations. Grevious errors of heart,and wrong of man to man is there in as cruel
and horrible and irrational as in his great tragedies, but in the end mere is comedy and
reconciliation. In The Winter's Tale King Leontes of Sicilia causes great sufferings to hischaste
and beautiful Queen Hermione through his mad jealously which goes to his head and he
loses reason and acts in a cruel revengeful and unjust manner. He charges his wife of
adultery with his boyhood friendKing Polixenes of Bohemia. At the same time he sends two
messengers to Delphi for Apollo's oracle. In the third Act of the play he charges in the trial
scene his wife. Queen Hermione with adultery committed with his friend King Polixenes.
Hermione appeals for oracle of Apollo and expresses no faith in tyrannical human justice.
The oracle declares Hermione as chaste, Polixenes innocent, Camillo loyal servant and Leontes
tyrant. Leontes' declares oracle untruth and orders to proceed with trial.
Blasphemy
His blasphemy leads to immediate horrible consequences. His heir and promising son
Mamillius dies due to his mother's poor plight. Hermione swoons to hear the death of her
son. Paulina later on declares that she is also dead because she could not bear the shock of
her son'suntimely death. Leontes is shocked by the tragic happenings and takes them as
Heaven's revenge. His grief and pain revive his reason and he decides about observing
penance to absolve himself of his sin. His infant daughter is taken away by Antigonus per orders
to desert coast of Bohemia to die by nature's rigours, for Leontes considers her a bastard of
Hermioneand Polixenes. She survives and is brought up by a shepherd. Antigonus is eaten by
a bear.
In Act IV. sixteen years after. Perdita grows up as an innocent graceful beauty of a rare
charm. Florizel, son of King Polixenes falls in love with Perdita. The act presents a beautiful
pastoral scene with romantic love of two handsome young person—Perdita and Florizel.
The elown and Autolycus. the rogue provide good humour. And the act provides comic relief
after the tragic first part of the play in Act 1 to Act III Covering three fifth part of the play.
Polixenes threatens his son Florizel to love a lowborn shepherd girl. The old shepherd and
Perdita are also threatened withdire consequences. Florizel refuses to leave his love and tells
his father that he can forgo his kingdom. Camillo helps the two lovers to escape to Sicilia and
King Leontes. In a huddled fifth Act. the process of forgiveness and reconciliation brings
together Leontes and his old friend, Polixenes. Off the stage Perdita turns out to be beautiful
daughter of Leontes and Hermione. Florizel and Perdita are united with betrothal and
Paulina in the statue scene invites King Leontes, his brother king Polixenes, Camillo and the
young heirs to the kingdoms of Sicilia and Bohemia to her solitary place to see a beautiful life-
like statue of Hermione. In the incredulous but famous statue-scene statue comes out as
Hermione alive. She forgives Leontes and all are reconciled happily.
Improbabilities
The play is full of improbabilities and unbelievable episodes and anachronisms.
Edmund Chamber writes, "Men set sail and are shipwrecked on the coast of Bohemia,
where never coast was, a bear comesopportunately to make a meal of witnesses and agent of
crime, shepherds find an infant princess with a casket of jewels that looks like a fairy gold : a
statue steps from its pedestal to become a living breathing woman."-
Anachronisms
The play opens in pre-Christian Greek world. Delphi is shown as a island but Hermione
is shown as daughter of Emperor of Russia. Resurrection, purgation and redemption are
Christian principles. Theprocess implies that a man may commit any sin, but through
suffering and penance or purgation he is absolved of the sin and becomes good and virtuous
again. In this process Leontes, the chief sinner in the play whotreats Hermione and his
daughter so cruelly is through a sixteen years of penance, saved from his sin and a changed
king is reconciled to his wife, daughter and time old friend King Polixenes. The unity of the
friends is cemented with marriage of their children Perdita and Florizel.
Romantic atmosphere
Geographical inaccuracies are there. But the new imaginative locale in the play the sea-
coast, pastoral scene, the sheep-shearing feast and dancing, singing of young shepherdess
Perdita and others shepherd girlsand boys provide romantic atmosphere in the comic part
of the play in last two acts (IV & V).
 Supernaturalism
Supernaturalism plays a decisive role in the play. Apollo's oracle declares Hermione
chaste, Polixenes innocent, Camillo a loyal servant, Leontes a tyrant, and infant daughter
his legitimate child. And he willremain without heir till the lost daughter is found. In the final
Act, when Dion asks Leontes to marry again for the sake of an heir to his kingdom. Paulina
alone of all the characters and including the audience knows thatHermione is alive. So she
asks Leontes to listen to the oracle which demanded the search for the forgotten child.
Leontes agrees to Paulina's good advice and resolves not to marry. Antigonus in his dream is
guided by the the spirit of Hermione that he should place the infant on the desert-coast of
Bohemia. She is picked up by a shepherd and grows to a young beautiful girl of rare charm.
Florizel, young son of Polixenes meets her, and they fall in love with each other, and the
process of reconciliation takes roots.

Romance of Love
The Winter's Tale is a romance. It begins with love of two friends Leontes and Polixenes
and the love of Leontes and his Queen, Hermione. They have a promising son in Mamillius
and Hermione is pregnant andexpecting a child. Polixenes is enjoying the hospitality of his
friend for nine months. Mad jealousy of Leontes makes the play tragic. He suspects his wife
and charges her of adultery with Polixenes and the child in her as a bastard of Polixenes.
However, the time passes. On the coast of Bohemia a beautiful pastoral scene with a lovely love
scene between Florizel and
Perdita, the children of Polixenes and Leontes present a wonderful romantic love-scene
which ultimately ends in not only their marriage but also reconciliation of Leontes and
Polixenes families. The children's romantic love brings a romance to a wonderful and happy
end. Thus the play begins with love and ends in Romance. Since one part of the plot is tragic
and the other part is comic; so the play is termed a tragi-comedy by somecritics. The
romance thus presents a new construction and theme and is regarded a great creation of the
great playwright, Shakespeare.
Conclusion
To sum up, the play is a mixture of realism and romance. It has been correctly called
Romance. Tragi-comedy is also a fit label for it. The first three Acts of The Winter's Tale are
serious and tragic, while the last two Acts contain such different elements as a pastoral
romance, songs, humour, roguery, and the re-union of long-separated individuals. The
mixture of sorrow, suffering, romance, humour, reunion, and forgiveness in the playjustifies
the label tragi-comedy for it. These different aspects of the play may be examined under the
following heads: tragic elements, romantic elements, comic elements, and the happy ending.
Discuss briefly the relevance of the title of the play, The Winter's
The play, The Winter's Tale was composed by Shakespeare in 1610-11. It has five acts and fifteen
scenes. The source of this play is a novel by Robert Greene, Pandosto or The Triumph of Time, first
published in * 1588, and again printed in 1607, with the titleDorastus and Fawnia. Shakespeare
rearranged the episodes, changed the name and introduced the comedy of Autolycus and
shepherds. Statue scene and name ofcharacters were borrowed from Plutarch.

The title
The phrase a "winter's tale" means an old wives' tale, a story narrated to children in the night
before they go to bed. It can be connected with some ancient legend or ballad, often exaggerated
by the narrator, or it can be a fairy-tale or a story concerned with ghosts. Sicilia's young
heir Mamillius in the play is fond of hearing such stories. In Act II, Scene the says to his mother that
a tragic story is better for a winter's evening. Suchstories are often illogical, full of improbabilities,
supernaturalism and wonders or fantastic events. Mamillius, himself, starts narrating a story,
"There was a man who dwelt by a Churchyard . . . " Coleridge believed that in the second part of the
play. The Winter's Tale in Act IV and V, theplay describes a tale fit for a long winter evening. While
another critic pouits out that the tragic story of the play involving Leontes' irrational jealousy,
resulting in unjust and cruel treatment of Queen Hermione is a fitting winter's tale. The play is
full of improbabilities, unbelievable, incidents and flouts unities in the structure of the play. The
tale has also supernatural and fairy-tale wonders and romantic scenes like a winter's tale.
Shakespeare introduces imaginary details in the play, just as an old wives' story in which the
heroine is put to a lot of difficulties or chilly situations but ultimately she is successful in
surmounting her difficulties and meets a happy or fortunate end.
First part of the play - the long chilly dreary winter
Critics agree that The Winter's Tale has two contrasting and parallel plots which ultimately
are linked together to bring the play to a happy note with the theme of forgiveness and
reconciliation.
The first tragic part in which irrational jealousy of King Leontes of Sicilia destroys the happy
life of Queen Hermione, rightly speaking, presents the long chilly dreary winter for the heroine of
the play. She ischarged with adultery, treated as a harlot and condemned to lead a secluded life. Her
son is taken away from him and she is tried for a sin she has not committed. Leontes' cruel injustice
even refutes the oracle of Apollo
declaring her chaste. As a result the Heavens punish King Leontes. His promising son,
Mamillius dies of shock of his mother's ill treatment. Hermione also swoons at the sad news of her
son's untimely death andlater Paulina declares her dead. This is long winter evening for
Hermione when chilly dark clouds of shame and destruction make the life of the heroine in the story
horrible. She survives but is forced to lead a sad secluded life at a solitary place for sixteen long
years, but at the end regains her position through forgiveness and reconciliation.
The second part-a long sad winter evening
The second part of plot is a long sad winter evening for Leontes, who suffers grief due to the loss
of his son and wife. He repents how his disobedience to Apollo's oracle declaring Hermione chaste
has brought upon him the punishment of the Heavens. He vows to do penitence and for sixteen years
he is made to live a 'saint-like-sorrow' life. His penitenceleads to regeneration and redemption. He is
absolved of his sin.
The comic phase-spring and summer after long winter
Just like 'the winter tale', the long winter in the play in the third comic phase after sixteen
years moves towards spring and summer. In England summer is a pleasant season when after the
winter, the earthbecomes fertile for good crop under the sun. Leontes' lost daughter, Perdita, a charming
young shepherdess with un-usual beauty is sixteen years old, and King Polixenes young son, Florizel
meet in the pastoral scene inBohemia (Act IV). They fall in love with each other. Polixenes and Camillo in
disguise are also present in a free happy sheep-shearing festival. The old shepherd is asked by Prince
Florizel to declare their betrothal. He agrees, but before the announcement King Polixenes throws
away his disguise and threatens his son Florizel for marrying a low-born girl. Florizel is faithful to his love
and refuses to abide by his father's orders. Camillo who helped in the first escape from Siciliato avoid
jealous Leontes' wrath, now helps the young lovers to escape to Sicilia, where regenerated King Leontes
would help them. He follows them with Polixenes and in Act V, all important persons of the first scene
come together. Paulina in statue-scene brings out Hermione alive. She forgives Leontes, and
reconciliation follows. Leontes is united with his wife, daughter and old friend Polixenes. Perdita and
Florizel heir to kingdoms of Bohemia and Sicilia are married.So The Winter's Tale comes to a fortunate
end.
The supernatural
Like a fairy-tale, in The Winter's tale the supernatural plays a very decisive role. Apollo's oracle
plays a crucial role in the story. The oracle declares in Act III of the play that Hermione is chaste, Polixenes
is innocent.
Camillo is a loyal subject, Leontes is a tyrant, the infant is legitimate daughter of Leontes. hi
this oracle the real justice is announced. Mad with jealousy Leontes rejects the oracle as untrue.
Heaven's punishment follows. His son Mamillius dies and Hermione swoons at her son's death and
Paulina declares her dead. The oracle brings Leontes to senses. He vows repentance for the injustice
done to his virtuous wife, Hermoine. His penance for sixteen years absolves his sin. And the play
in Act V ends with a happy reconciliation as ordained by the oracle. Leontes is united with his family
and old friend Polixenes. His daughter Perdita and Florizel, son of Polixenes are married.
The play is full of improbabilities and violates the three unities. Edmund Chambers writes
about these wonders in the play : Men set sail and are ship-wrecked on the coast ofBohemia, where
never coast was, a bear comes opportunely to make a meal of the witnesses, and agents of crime.
Shepherds find an infant princess with a casket of jewels that looks like fairy gold; a statue steps from its
pedestal to become a living breathing woman.
Title is mentioned in dialogue of the characters and by critics
Commenting on the recovery of Perdita by her father, a character says (in Act V, Scene ii) : "This
news, which is called true, is like an old tale that the verity of it is in strong suspicion". A little later
Paulina says, with reference to Hermione (in Act V, Scene iii) :
That she is living,
Were it but told you. Should be hooted at Like an old tale.
Coleridge felt that the second part of the play (Acts IV And V) unfolded a more leisurely tale fit
for long winter evenings, while another critic writes : "The first portion of the play, full of chilling
suspicion, bitterinjustice, and cold-blooded cruelty harmonizes finely with the name of The Winter's
Tale. Some find in the title a suggestion that the play is an allegory of the seasons but that is a far-
fetched explanation.
Conclusion
Shakespeare named his famous tragedies after the names of main characters like Othello,
Macbeth. Hamlet. Antony and Cleopatra, but in his comedies adopted phrases, 'Much Ado', Mid
Summer Night's Dream and The Winter's Tale which provide the reader play's theme
or atmosphere. The Winter's Tale thus is a correct title giving the substance of the play and its
construction as new drama or tragi-comedy or a romancedifferent from his earlier comedies and
famous tragedies—a romance with the theme of forgiveness and reconciliation.

Discuss in brief the character of Leontes in The Winter's Tale.

King Leontes of Sicilia is a middle-aged man, happily married to his graceful good-looking Queen,
Hermione. He is father of young promising heir, Mamillius. When the play opens. Hermione is
expecting a second child. King Leontes has an old boyhood friend. King Polixenes of Bohemia. After a long
time he has come to his friend, Leontes in Sicilia, and forabout nine months he has been enjoying the
hospitality of his friend.
Queen Hermione treats him with respect and her hospitality starts Leontes' suspicion regarding
her faithfulness to him. The suspicion takes the form of sin of jealousy, when he requests Polixenes
to stay for some time more, when Polixenes politely refuses him, expressing his urgent concern for
his kingdom. Leontes requests his wife Hermione to make Polixenes stay for a week more. On her
request Polixenes extends his stay andtaking Hennione's hand moves in the garden. Mrs.
Inchbald terms this unprovoked jealousy in Leontes as improbable in the play. Quiller
Couch observes, 'hi Pandosto (Robert Greene's novel which is the main source of Shakespeare's
play, The Winter's Tale)Leontes' jealousy is made by slow increase plausible. Shakespeare weakens
the plausibility of it. . . as by budding up the jealousy in its motion so densely that it strikes us
as merely frantic . . .' This has divided critics. Some believe that the franticjealousy of Leontes is
sudden as a 'vice of the mind', and not in tune with the psychology of the character, whereas there
are others who believe that the jealousy of Leontes is not sudden but gradual.
Jealousy is gradual
Edward Dowden, while comparing Leontes' jealousy with that of Othello, says, "The jealousy
of Leontes is not less but more fierce and unjust than that of Othello. "Hudson writes, "His jealousy
shoots in comet-like as something unprovided for in the general ordering of his
character." Shakespeare's usual way of writing is that he unfolds such passion in its rise and progress
with it to its consummation. Hudson points out that in The Winter's Tale Leontes' jealousy is not
sudden but gradual and rationally supports his action, hi the play Polixenes says :
'Nine changes of the wat'ry star hath been The shepherd's note, since we left our throne With
but a burden
Leontes notices the prolonged intimacy between Hermione and Polixenes and Hudson refers
to, "the secret thoughts which may have been gathering in the mind of Leontes ..." hi Act I, Scene ii
Leontes says that Camillo is either dishonest or a coward for how he could ignore the affair going on
between Hermione and Polixenes. Even then Camillo assures Leontes that Queen Hermione is
chaste. Leontes informs him:
Is whispering nothing ? Is leaning cheek to cheek ? is meeting noses
Kissing with inside lip ? stopping the cares
 Of laughter with a sigh ? a note infallible Of breaking honesty-horsing foot on foot ? Sulking
in corners ?
Leontes is convinced about Hermione's infidelity and tells Camillo, "My wife is slippery ? . . . My
wife is a hobby horse, deserves a name. It's rank as any flax-wench . .. ." From such references critics
suggest thatthe mad jealousy of Leontes is gradual and nine months' time further makes Leontes
suspect that the child in Hermione is the result of her adultery with Polixenes. He loses all reason
and control over his self that he sets aside the advice of Camillo, the opinion of all his lords and
to crown all, he declares even Apollo's oracle as false and untrue. He openlyaccuses Hermione of
adultery and even calls his infant daughter a bastard.
Blasphemy
King Leontes' jealousy makes him irrational and cruel. In the first place he expresses his ire
against Polixenes and asks Camillo to poison him to death. Camillo convinced of Hermione and
Polixenes' innocence changes and helps Polixenes escape from Sicilia the same night. In themorning
the news of Camillo's treachery and Polixenes' escape beyond the scope of his revenge convinces
Leontes of his suspicion of Hermione's infidelity and is determined to destroy her for her adultery. He
separatesMamillius from her and imprisons her. At the same time he sends two emissaries to
Delphi to seek divine justice through Apollo's oracle to declare Hermione guilty of adultery and
as such to be punished withdeath according to the law of his kingdom. On the other hand, he
declares public trial of his Queen on charges of treason. Hermione to defend her honour asks for the
oracle. The oracle declares her chaste, Polixenesinnocent, Camillo a loyal servant, infant as
legitimate child of Leontes a tyrant, hi his jealousy and rage King Leontes declares it as a lie
and orders to carry on the trial. At this he receives the sad news that his son and heir, a promising lad
Mamillius could not bear the shock of his mother's plight and he is dead. Hermione swoons to hear the
news. The shock of his son's death makes Leontes' announce that —
Apollo's angry; and the Heavens themselves Do strike at my injustice.
He prays to Apollo for forgiveness. He understands his injustice to Hermione. Camillo and
Polixenes. Paulina at this moment declares that Hermione is also dead. Leontes vows for penance in his
grief and orders the graves of Mamillius and Hermione to be set together so that he can go to the chapel
everyday and weep to absolve himself of his sin of jealousy. For sixteen long years he observes 'saint-like
sorrow' and ultimately Cleomenesdeclares him that his penance has redeemed Leontes of his faults.
Cleomenes asks his lord to remarry for the sake of having an heir for the kingdom. Paulina, who
knows that Hermione is alive, persuades Leontes not to marry but look for his lost child as per
oracle. Leontes praises Paulina for her good advice and vows that he will not marry again. Leontes
is certainly a changed man after his purgation. So oracleplays a significant part in the play and makes
Leontes repent for his injustice and cruelty and also makes him follow the saner counsels in life.
Effects of Leontes' jealousy
The evil effects of Leontes' mad jealousy are not as bad as Othello's. The desire to destroy is a very
simple derivative from the power of instinct, the instinct which in its evil form goes by the name of
the first of the deadly sins, pride. It was by this sin that the angels fell, and at the end of Othello, lago
is explicitly equated with the evil. Following the Christian values of sin a forgiveness in The Winter's
Tale, Shakespeare makes the consequences of Leontes' mad jealousy less calamitous than the ruin
wrought by Othello's jealousy. In the last act of the play (Act V) reconciliation is the theme of play.
Hermione's statue turns out to be live— Hermione in flesh and blood. She 'forgives' Leontes and
embraces him, thus bringing the play to a fortunate and a happy end. Leontes is united with his
beloved Queen, Hermione, his daughter, Perdita and time old friend Polixenes. The friendship of the two
families is cemented with the marriage of Polixenes' son Florizel and Perdita, the daughter and heir of
Leontes. The kingdoms of Sicilia and Bohemia are thus united into one.
Conclusions
The Winter's Tale thus becomes a unique play of Shakespeare different from his early comedies or
tragedies. Though in the first three acts (Act I—III) the play is tragic and full of injustice and sorrow
on account ofKing Leontes' unaccountable but not impossible, frantic jealousy leading to the sad
demise of his heir and promising son, Mamillius, and the death of his wife Hermione (declared by
Paulina) and sixteen years of penance for the King and awful seclusion of Hermione in a solitary place.
But the atmosphere of tragic first three acts is immensely relieved by the pastoral scene in Act IV,
comedy and mirth brought by the clown and Autolycus and the sincere love of innocent souls, Florizel
and Perdita. hi the last Act V of the play Leontes, a changed person is united with his wife, daughter, old
friend and his son in new found son-in-law, Florizel, son and heir of Polixenes, King of Bohemia. The
play becomes a tragi-comedy or a romance apart from Shakespeare's earlier romance.

Discuss briefly the three female characters—Hermione, Perdita and

Paulina—in Shakespeare's play The Winter's Tale.
In the play, The Winter's Tale, three female characters of Hermione, Perdita and Paulina are
beautifully portrayed by Shakespeare with outstanding qualities of different nature. Hermione is
beautiful virtuous and graceful. Young marvel Perdita is a refreshing innocent beauty and symbol of
'creation' and love. Paulina is bold and fearless.

Hermione—Queen of King Leontes

Mrs. Jameson regards the character of Hermione hi The Winter's Tale one of Shakespeare's
masterpieces. She is a queen, a matron and a mother, she is beautiful, good and graceful. She is the
daughter of RussianEmperor and a beloved queen of Leontes till the opening Act of the play for several
years and mother of a promising son, Mamillius. Edward Dowden writes, 'From the first,
Hermione, whose clear-sightedness is equal to her courage had perceived that her husband
laboured under a delusion which was cruel and calamitous to himself. From the first she transcends
all blind resentment and has true pity for the man who wrongs her. She accepts her pain and sorrow
gracefully and points out:
'How will this grieve you, When you shall come to clearer knowledge, that You thus published me
Dignified and brave
Hermione suffers most in the play because of unjust, irrational and cruel jealousy of King
Leontes. She keeps her calm and wait for Leontes to come to his senses through long suffering. She
says;
'I am not prone to weeping as our sex
Commonly are; the want of which vain dew Perchance shall dry your pities; but I have
That honourable grief lodged here which burns Worse than tears down; . . .'
And when Leontes threatens her with death penalty she boldly points out:
"Now, my Liege (Lord)
 Tell me what blessings I have here al'ethat I should fear to die?"
He can proceed with the trial. She is not afraid of death nor care for life, 'I prize it not a straw."
But she cares for her honour, for that she Wants that she should not be condemned upon
suspicion. There is no proof of her 'adultery' or treason other than her Lord's jealousies, so
to convict her on that alone will be nothing less than tyranny. So she requests King Leontes :
"Your Honours all,
I do refer me to the oracle,
Apollo be my judge.
Leontes concedes to her request convinced that his charge is well founded. He orders
Cleomenes and Dion to read out the oracle. An officer reads :
"Hermione is chaste, Polixenes blameless, Camillo a true subject; Leontes a jealous tyrant, his
innocent babe truly begotten, and the King shall be without an heir if that which is lost is not found."
Leontes in his mad rage terms the oracle as untrue and orders to proceed with the trial. But at this
he receives the sad news that his beloved son, Mamillius, a promising child is dead. He could not bear
the poor plight of his mother. Leontes is shocked and utters a cry, 'Apollo's angry, and the Heavens
themselves / Do strike at my injustice'. Hermione faints at her son's death and Paulina declares her dead.
Blasphemy brings Leontes to his senses, but Hermione for rest of the play till the last statue-scene for
sixteen years remains dead, and suffers seclusion actually till Leontes' saint-like sorrow rids him of his
sin. She waits and when the statue of Hermione comes down the pedestal alive, she forgives repenting
Leontesand embraces him. Her gracious behaviour lives with her nature. The play comes to a happy
end at an event where Hermione was degraded. She blesses her daughter Perdita. Florizel and Perdita
are betrothed. Leontes is reconciled to his wife, daughter and friend.
Perdita
E.M.W. Tillyard writes. "Perdita is one of Shakespeare's richest characters; at once a symbol and
a human being. She is the play's main symbol of the powers of creation." Leontes is the sole agent of
destruction in the play, so it is ironically fitting that his daughter whom he has thrown as a bastard to die
in inhospitable condition on the coast of Bohemia should embody the contrary process. Leontes'
jealousy takes the form of first deadly sin i.e. pride. Whereas Shakespeare is conscious of originalvirtue,
which he portrays in Perdita, her instinct to create is implied in her nature, her love for producing flowers,
'followed by her own simple and unashamed confession of wholesome sensuality
A sad beginning
Perdita, the lost one has a very sad origin in the play. Mad with suspicion and jealousy, Leontes
feels that Hermione has committed adultery and the child in her is a bastard child of Hermione and
Polixenes. So he hates Hermione, charges her with adultery and throws pregnant Hermione in the
prison. Hermione gives birth to an infant girl. Paulina requests Hermione to give her child and
hopes that Leontes will come to his sensesafter seeing the child. But Leontes' fury increases to see
the child. He calls the infant a bastard and asks Paulina to take away the child at once. Paulina leaves
the infant there. Leontes then calls Antigonus and orders him to put the child in fire. Antigonus
shuns this heretic act. He is then ordered in Scene iii (Act III) to take the infant outside his
kingdom to some in hospitable place and let the rigours of the nature destroy the child. Antigonus
arrives in Bohemia and lays the infant at a horrible place on the sea-coast, when a storm is
imminent. Antigonus is killed by a bear and his ship with sailors sinks in storm. Antigonus writes a
note and puts jewels and clothes in a basket by the side of the infant before his death.
 An old shepherd picks up the infant with the casket of jewels and happily returns to his home
or hut followed by clown, his son. The infant is, Perdita the lost one. She is brought up by the
shepherd as his daughter in pastoral surroundings. Sixteen years pass. Perdita is a beautiful,
graceful and innocent girl. She has grace of Hermione but pastoral environment gives her a
delightful personality. On sheep-shearing feast Polixenes and Camillo attend the feast in disguise.
Looking at her rare beauty Polixenes remarks :
This is the prettiest low-born that ever Ran on the green sward. Nothing she does or seems But
smacks of something greater than herself,Too noble for this place.
These line clearly indicate the royalty of Perdita, though she is brought us as a shepherdess. Camillo
also endorses King Polixenes' views and calls her 'the cream of curds and creams.' Perdita is so
modest that she regards herself a 'poor lowly maid.' Florizel visits shepherd's cottage and he is
fascinated by Perdita. He finds her as beautiful as a flower. Both fall in love with each other and
adore each other. Florizel details each of her graces, wishing her in turn to speak, to sing, to dance—
as a wave of sea-forever. Watching her, he sees the universe completed, crowned at each moment of her
existence.
'Each your doing,
So singular in each particular,
Crown that you are doing in the present deeds
That all your acts are queens.'
Sheep-shearing feast
Scene iv of Act IV is a long and significant scene with about one thousand lines of the play. It
includes several events but takes the audience to the open and free English countryside depicting its
beauty and joy in a wonderful sheep-shearing festival of shepherds full of songs and dances with
beautiful Perdita in fine flowery clothes as hostess. Looking at her so nicely dress, Florizel says
that she looks like a goddess of flowers :
"no shepherdess but Flora, (goddess of flowers) Fearing in April's front (appearing in the spring)
But Perdita feels ashamed at seeing Prince Florizel dressed as an ordinary shepherd. He
brushes aside her remark that even gods in love with earthly maidens took the form of beasts—
Jupiter transformed himself into a bull to carry Europa. Green Neptune changed himself to a ram
andbleated fire robed Apollo wore the look of a shepherd. So he is not ashamed of wearing the dress
of a shepherd for her, who is much more beautiful than those women whom gods loved; nor their
love so chaste as his for his desires do not overpower him or his lust cannot ride over his honesty
and morality of his love for her. However, Perdita is afraid that his steadfastness in love will not be
able to stand before the wrath of his father KingPolixenes. Florizel, however, assures her that he
will remain with his love forever. He asks her to be happy and attend to her guests. Old Shepherd
also orders her to attend to her guests and act as a hostess for the feast, serve food, sing and dance
with the guests to make them enjoy the feast; bid unknown friends welcome.
Love of nature
She goes to Camillo and welcomes him with rosemary and rue flowers. She offers the same
flowers to Polixenes for the two flowers remain fresh during the winter. Rue signifies grace and
rosemary friendship. She welcomes them and prays with flowers grace and friendship.
Polixenes thanks her for the right flowers for their old age, not different from whiter. She politely
says 'Sir, the fairest flowers o'the season / Are caranations and streaked gillyours / Which some
call bastards; Of that kind / Our rustic garden's barren . . .' Polixenes asks her why she has not
planted them. She simply replies that she does not like grafting and like the nature as it is. Here are
other flowers for 'you'—hot lavender, mints, savery.marjoram, marigold. Camillo praising her grace
says if he were a sheep in her flock, he would stop grazing on grass and flowers. He would simply feed
himself by looking at her beauty. She turns to young shepherds and shepherdesses and prays that she
had daffodils, violets, Juno's pale prime roses and oxlips to make a garland for her sweet friend,
Florizel and cover him with several layers of them. Florizel remarks in jest 'to cover a dead-body'. She
replies quickly 'No', but like a piece of ground for love and to play on . . . But quick and in my arms.
Come and have your flowers as girls play at Mayday festival. Florizel happily replies whatever she does
is pretty for instance, if she dances, he wishes her 'A wave o' the sea, that you might ever do. . .'
Bold
In the feast, the Old Shepherd brings the two, Florizel and Perdita together and is about to
announce their engagement, but Polixenes asks him not to do so for he wants to make an enquiry. After
that he discads hisdisguise and appears as King Polixenes. He objects to his son, Florizel marrying a
low-born girl. In case he refuses he would be debarred from ascending the throne. He, further,
threatens Perdita and the Old Shepherd with dire consequences if they proceed with their marriage. He
leaves thefeast and orders Camillo to bring the prince with him to the court. The events send a shock
in the whole gathering. Perdita innocently but boldly faces the threat and says:
'I was not much afeard; for once or twiceI was about to speak and tell him plainly The self-
same sun that shines upon his courtHides not his visage from our cottage, butLooks on alike . . .'
She tells Florizel. too, that he is free as far as she is concerned. But Florizel remains steadfast in
his love and tells her he is not going to leave his love, he can leave the throne.
'From my succession wipe me father. I Am heir to my affection (love)
Escape to Sicilia
Considering the situation and convinced of true love between Perdita and Florizel, Camillo suggests
to them to escape to Sicilia. King Leontes is new person after long penance, so he will welcome them.
He suggests to Florizel that he should introduce himself as son of his friend Polixenes and tell him he
has brought greetings for him from his father. Florizel ishappy to follow the plan, and calls Camillo
preserver of his father and now him. In the way to the port they meet Autolycus and Camillo
makes Florizel change his clothes with the clothes of Autolycus. Perdita andFlorizel thus escape
unnoticed to Sicilia and meet King Leontes. King Leontes welcomes them. Soon after Camillo and
Polixenes follow them to Sicilia. In Act V of the play the identity of Perdita as the daughter of Leontes
is revealed. Leontes is very happy to meet his daughter. Oracle comes true. Polixenes is also glad to
know that Perdita is the daughter ofLeontes and so engagement of Florizel and Perdita is announced.
Paulina knows that Hermione is alive. She invites all of them to her place to see a beautiful statue of
Hermione, and to everybody's surprise. Hermione steps down from pedestal, forgives Leontes and
embraces him. Thus the play ends on a fortunate note of reconciliation. Leontes is united with his
wife,daughter and friend Polixenes. Perdita and Florizel are happily married.
Perdita is a very charming character and Coleridge rightly calls her "a pretty piece of poetry."
She is, in fact, a graceful Hermione modified by pastoral up-bringing. Truly, she is one of the most
fascinating characters of Shakespeare.
Paulina
Paulina is an important character in the play, The Winter's Tale. She is honest and devoted to
Queen Hermione and the royal family including King Leontes. She is bold and fearless. She is a bit
theatrical and herspeech and action are a part of improbabilities in the play. She is deeply concerned
with the theme of forgiveness and reconciliation. Though it is quite improbable that she could declare
the Queen dead and keep her in her care for sixteen years, yet she is responsible for keeping the
Queen alive and in statue-scene reconciles Leontes with his wife, Queen Hermione whom everybody
thinks to be dead. So Paulina plays a vital role in the play in bringing about happy reunion of changed
and penitent King Leontes to his beloved graceful Queen, Hermione. Paulina is fearless and
sharp tongued, who cannot bear injustice to her Queen or her virtue. For that she demands justice
for her from King Leontes and at places is quite furious in her demand, almost to the tune of
abusiveness.

Paulina and Leontes

Paulina learns that in his mad jealousy King Leontes has imprisoned his wife, she goes to the
prison and through Emilia requests Queen Hermione to give her the new born infant girl so that she
may plead with the King for justice

'We do not know

How he may soften at the sight of the childThe silence of pure innocence Persuades when speaking
fails.
Paulina believes that, on seeing his infant child, King Leontes may relent and see the reason
and end injustice to the virtuous Queen. She takes the infant to Leontes, tries to stop her, but she
rushes in and places the infant at the feet of the King and begs—
The good queen
For she is good, hath brought you forth a daughter Here’tis; commends it to your blessing.
Quite contrary to Paulina's wishes. Leontes in great fury says that it is not his child. It is the
issue of Polixenes and orders his servant to put the child and Paulina to fire. Paulina boldly asserts
that Lord should look at the child to see if it is his. King Leontes shouts at her that he will
have Paulina burnt. To this Paulina replies
I care not
It is an heretic that makes the fire
Not she which burns in't. I'll not call you tyrant
She accuses him of charging his Queen only on 'weak-hinged fancy' and no other proof. 'A most
unworthy and unnatural lord can do no more.' Thus she defies death mocking at the threats of the
king.
A sincere friend of the Queen
Paulina is sincere to the Queen and cannot tolerate any insult or injustice to her. In the trial
scene (Act III) when Hermione faints to hear the news of her son's death, Paulina plots and
declares her dead. The King is very sad and moved by the news, she accuses the King :
"But, O thou tyrant!
Do not repent these things, for they are heavier Than all thy woes can stir; betake thee
nothing but despair . . ."
 Even if he repents for thousand years naked, fasting upon a barren mountain, and still winter
gods won't take pity on him. She pleads, implores and even accuses the King to relent and accept
that Queen Hermione isnoble and chaste. She has been always loyal and faithful to him. He
should abandon his frantic jealousy and live his old life of love and affection with her. But she finds
that Leontes in his vain fancy charges the honourable Queen with adultery, she loses her patience
and cool and hurls at the
monarch wild accusations :
Nor I nor any
But one that is here, and that is himself; for he The sacred honour of himself his queens.His hopeful
sons, his babes, betrays to slander, Whose sting is sharper than the swords.
Harsh but well-meaning
Paulina is bold and harsh. At places she crosses limits and is told by courtiers to behave. But she
is honest and has no ill-will against her lord. Leontes' injustice and cruelty to his virtuous queen
makes her lose hertemper, and utter un-civil words, but in her heart she is only planning
that repentance should change Leontes and the old life of affection and love between the King and the
Queen can come back. Paulina alone knowsthat the Queen is alive and waits only till penitence
makes him a new man. So even in her accusation there is loyalty and respect for the couple. She does
not mean any offence or ill-will and ultimately in Act V Leontes is convinced of her goodness. When Dion
and Cleomenes propose to King Leontes to remarry. Paulina reminds Leontes of the oracle and makes
him declare that he will never marry again. He praises Paulina for her good advice. She knows that
Hermione is alive and so she will be able to bring them together. She requests for visiting her house
for witnessing a life-size statue of Hermione. The statue-scene ultimately brings in forgiveness and
reconciliation and unites Leontes with his wife, daughter and friend. In return King Leontes is so
pleased that he proposes the marriage of Camillo with Paulina to end her loneliness. The play on
account of Paulina's plan and determination brings back happiness to the royal couple—Leontes
and Hermione. Thus the plays comes to a happy end.

Discuss briefly the character and role of Autolycus in The Winter's

Tale.
A typical Elizabethan England comedian
Autolycus is a Greek name, but in the play.The Winter's Tale he is a typical Elizabethan
England comedian. He has very little link with the play, and even if the character is deleted, it
won't effect the play. He is a thief who earns his living by picking pockets of poor villagers and
scoffs at honesty as a policy. He is introduced in the play in the fourth Act (Act IV) and is
dragged on to Act V but with no important role.
His purpose is to make people laugh by his clever machinations and songs. When
thesimpleton son of the shepherd-clown is going to the market to collect things for the
sheep-shearing feast, he finds a person lying on the road (Act IV. Scene iii). As the clown
approaches him he pretends that he has been robbed and beaten. The clown takes pity on
him and helps him get up. During the process he picks his pocket. His art of stealing
moneyfrom the clown creates laughter. He pretends that he can hardly stand and
describes clown's effort as act of charity. The clown offers him money but he cleverly refuses
for he knows that in the process the clown will come to know that his purse has been
stolen. He gives out a false story that he has a kinsman about three quarters of a mile
ahead. He will getmoney and other things from him. 'Please offer no money, it kills
my heart'.
A timid person
The clown asks him if he knows the robber. He replies ‘Yes’ Once he served a prince, but he
was turned out of the court for cheating. Then he became a process-server, a bailiff. Then he
organised puppet shows on 'the' story of the Prodigal Son. Then he married a tinker's wife
near his village. Having followed several shady professions, he ultimately became a merry
rogue and came to be known as Autolycus. The clown calls him a shameful person, a thief who
preys on rural gatherings at Church, fairs or dangerous games as that of a bear, in which a bear
is harassed by dogs. He is a coward. He must have run away. Autolycus confesses that he is a
timid person and no fighter. His heart sinks at the very idea of a fight. He knew that and so took
advantage and left him in these rags. A funny story about himself, a small thief afraid of taking
part in highway robberies, for in that case he could be caught and hanged. That is something
he fears and so never robs rich persons—persons in high position. As the clown moves away,
he decides that he will meet him again in his sheep-shearing feast. He will be a pedlar and enjoy
picking pockets of the shepherds.
A good singer
Autolycus is a good singer and sings all types of songs to the taste of the listeners. He is
introduced in the play with a song :
When daffodils begin to peer,
With heigh ! the doxy over the dale
Why, then comes in the sweet o' the year
For the redblood reigns in the winter pale.
The white sheet bleaching on the hedge !
With heigh ! the sweet bird, oh, how they sing
The lark, that tirra-lyra chants,
With heigh ! with heigh ! the thrush and the jay
Are summer songs for me and my aunt (sweet hearts)
While we lie tumbling in the hay.
The song ends with celebrating the summer by stealing the sheets and after selling them
to buy a quart of ale.
In the sheep-shearing feast he enters as a pedlar singing about things which he sells; lawn
as white as snow, cypress as black as crow, scented gloves as fine as damask roses, masks,
bracelets, perfumes and undergarments for ladies, gifts for youngmen's sweet-hearts and
so on. The clown loves Mopas, and so for her he purchases ribbons and gloves. Autolycus
warns the clown about cheats roaming there. But the clown, assures him that he will not lose
anything in the feast. Autolycus introduces to the clown and Mopas a few ballads with fairy
tales.
A philosopher
Autolycus is very happy and laughs at honesty and praises a simpleton for his trustfulness.
He has sold all his worthless goods. Customers crowded him and he could see their purses
and so he enjoyed his pick-pocketing. It was real pity that in the middle King Polixenes
frightens away the crowd otherwise he would have picked the pocket of each and everyone.
He concludes from his venture that honesty and trustfulness gotogether and again laughs at
them as loudly as he can.
Camillo helps Florizel and Perdita escape to Sicilia with a letter to King Leontes. They
meet Autolycus in the way and Camillo asks Florizel to change his clothes with Autolycus. After
that Florizel and Perdita board the ship and leave Bohemia for Sicilia. Autolycus thinks that
here is an opportunity when a dishonest man can prosper. He has got good money for
exchange of his clothes. The prince is fleeing with the girl, a dishonest business. 'If I thought
it was a piece of honesty to acquaint the king withal I would not do't. I hold it to be more
knavery to conceal it; andtherein am 1 constant to my profession."
Soon he comes across the old shepherd and his son, badly stricken with fear of losing
their lives because of Perdita's love with the prince and King Polixenes' threat to hang them.
Autolycus poses as a courtier who can help them. He comes to know the truth that Perdita is
not their daughter, and how she was found with a casket of jewels and gold. He befools them
with his tricky brain and in the bargain gets gold from them. At the close of the Act IV he says,
"If I had a mind to be honest, I see fortune would not suffer me : she drops booty in my
mouth." He has got gold and also the opportunity to help his prince. All god-send not
his effort. He can take the two to the ship and inform the prince about the truth. He decides
that if they call him rogue, it is quite immaterial. But 'To him will I present them, there may
be matter (something important) in it."
Autolycus turns to be honest and respectful
In scene ii, Act V, Autolycus, perchance meets the gentleman, who knows the truth about
Perdita. He narrates the whole story to the prince in the ship, how Perdita was born in prison.
She was Hermione's daughter. She was taken to the King by Paulina but the King took her
to be a bastard and asked Antigonus, Paulina's husband to throw the child to die by the rigours
of the climate at some far off place. Antigonus brought the infant to an inhospitable place on
the coast of Bohemia. The infant was picked up by the shepherd, but all those involved with
crime, Antigonus, and sailors perished by Apollo's will. Autolycus, knowing the
truth becomes honest and respectful to the shepherd and his son, the clown and introduces
them to King Leontes. Clown promises him, "Give me thy hand. I will swear to the prince
thou art and as honest a true fellow as any is in Bohemia."
Give an account of the romantic scene of love between Florizel, son of
King Polixenes of Bohemia and Perdita, the lost daughter of King
Leontes of Sicilia.
The pastoral scene in the play The Winter's Tale is a significant scene in the play and brings the
freshness of rural life of English countryside with its joy and mirth. Dr. Furnivall points out that
Shakespeare blends"his Stratford neighbours at their sheepshearing and country sports enjoying
the vagabond pedlar's gammon and talk, delighting in the sweet Warwickshire maidens, and buying the
'fairings', telling goblin stories to the boys, and opening his heart afresh to all the innocent mirth and
the beauty of the nature around". The freshness of the scene is further enlivened by the fairy-tale
romance of young beautiful Perdita, 'the prettiest lowborn lass, the Queen of curds and cream" or the
'Flora peeping in April's front' and young handsome Florizel. son of King Polixenesdisguised as
Doricles, a shepherd.

Sheep—shearing festival
Scene iv of Act V of the play. The Winter's Tale is the longest and excellent, original pastoral
scene from Shakespeare. It opens before the shepherd's cottage in Bohemia. Perdita, as the hostess,
with old shepherd and his son, the clown are celebrating sheepshearing festival, usually held in
England after the winter when the season becomes warm. Florizel, King Polixenes and Camillo are
present in the feast disguised as shepherds. The scene opens with a romantic dialogue between Perdita
and Florizel. Perdita is dressed as a beautiful Queen by Florizel. She feels ashamed of FlorizeFs
shabby shepherd's clothes for she knows he is a prince. ButFlorizel reminds her that in love even Apollo
changed himself to a shepherd like him. So he is happy with his disguise for his love, Perdita a
shepherdess quite ignorant about her royal descent. Both love each other sincerely,though Perdita is
apprehensive as to the consequences of her love, when the King comes to know about his son's love
for a humble shepherdess. But Florizel assures her that in all circumstances he will stand by hislove.
She should not grieve and spoil the feast. Old sliepherd also scolds Perdita and asks her to attend to
the guests in proper spirit, move about sing and dance in the joyful spirit of the feast. Perdita then
joins the festival in spirit and offers flowers to welcome the guests. She offers rosemary and rue to
Polixenes and Camillo. Polixenes points out that they are winter flowers. Perdita replies that
caranations and striped gillyours. the bastard flowers for they require 'grafting" to develop
into artistic flowers. She does not like 'grafting' so she has no such flowers in her rustic garden. The
scene describes her love for flowers and her wish to offer daffodils and other flowers suitable to the age
of young shepherds and shepherdesses. The scene enlivens with the singing, dancing andballads and
songs of Autolycus disguised as a pedlar selling petty things and also picking pockets of simple rustics.
The clown buys several ballads from the rogue for his beloved Mopsa.
Love of Perdita and Florizel
Perdita and Florizel love each other sincerely. They are quite happy. The old shepherd is also quite
pleased with their love-affair. Polixenes is also anxious to fathom the love of Florizel for Perdita.
Florizel tells hisfather that he prizes his love for Perdita above everything in his life and the world. The
old shepherd then proposes that it is time to announce the betrothal of the two in the presence of
venerable gentlemen. But Polixenesstops him and asks Florizel if he has the consent of his father.
Florizel says that he does not need it and requests the respectable gentlemen to announce their
'contract'. Polixenes is in rage and throws away hisdisguise. He decries down Florizel that he would
deprive him of accession to the throne of Bohemia if he marries low-born Perdita. He
threatens Perdita that he would have her beauty 'scratched with briers' if shecontinued her love
with Florizel. He even threatens the old shepherd with dire consequence if he allowed them to meet in
his cottage. Everybody is surprised at the sudden development. King leaves in anger and asks Camillo to
bring the prince to the court with him.
Florizel's steadfastness
Perdita is confused and asks the prince to forget her. But Florizel asserts that he remains with
his love and declares that he will marry Perdita. He would renounce his accession and be 'heir to
my affection'. He asks Perdita to escape with him. Camillo is moved by the sincerity of their love and
suggests that they should go to Sicilia and King Leontes. He gives them a letter and assures them that
regenerated Leontes wouldwelcome them and help them. Florizel agrees to follow the plan and
they rush to the port. In the way they meet Autolycus and Camillo asks Florizel to change his clothes
with Autolycus. Florizel follows Camillo's instructions and changes his clothes. Both Florizel and
Perdita board a ship to Sicilia.
Perdita's royalty revealed
The old shepherd and his son. the clown are also scared. The clown suggests to his father that he
can go to the court and reveal that Perdita is not his daughter. He found her with casket of royal jewels
and gold and picked up the infant. In that case King won't punish them. Both agree to proceed but
meet Autolycus wearing prince's clothes and mistake him for a courtier. They offer him gold if he could
approach the King for their pardon. Autolycus takes advantage of their stupidity and takes them
to the ship travelling to Sicilia. Florizel and Perdita are also in the ship. Camillo persuades
Polixenes that they should follow Florizel to Sicilia. Thus Camillo plans to bring Polixenes to reach
the court of his friend, Leontes. He is interested in bringing all of them to the court of Sicilia. At Sicilia
in Act V forgiveness and reconciliation is effected through a natural process.
Forgivesness and reconciliations
Act IV provides comic relief to the first three tragic Acts of the play. And besides refreshing relief
and humour it paves the way for 'reconciliation' of Leontes with his family and friend. In the first
place, the true identity of Perdita is revealed through the royal jewels and Antigonus' note that she
is the lost daughter of Hermione and Leontes.Leontes is very glad to meet her; and Polixenes is also
very happy to know that Perdita is not low-born. She is the daughter of his old friend. Leontes sees
Hermione in Perdita when he looks at her in his court withFlorizel. Florizel and Perdita are betrothed.
Paulina carries all of them to her place to witness a life-size statue of Hermione. The statue turns out to be
Hermione alive. Hermione forgives regenerated Leontes and embraceshim. The play ends on a happy note.
A scene of romantic love
Thus Act IV is not only a wonderful pastoral scene, but also a scene of romantic love between two
happy young lovers—Florizel and Perdita. Their love further leads to final reconcilation after
Polixenes' angryoutburst against his son, Florizel and pretty low-born Perdita. Their sincere love makes
the two escape with the help of Camillo to Sicilia. Sixteen years after the incident when Leontes
declared his daughter a bastard and ordered Antigonus to leave her to die by rigours of nature, the
oracle comes true. The lost daughter is found at the same place, Sicilia"s court-- Perdita, the
shepherdess-and reconciliation results. The play ends as aromantic comedy. In this way Act IV.
scene iv is the most significant scene of the play. The Winter's Tale
Discuss briefly the significance of the statue scene (Act V, Scene iii) of
the play The Winter's Tale.
The statue scene (Scene iii, Act V) is a great theatrical device in the play, The Winter s
Taleto revive Hermione dead for sixteen years, since her fainting in the trial scene (Act III)
after hearing the news of her promising son. Prince Mamillius, who dies because he could
not bear the sad plight of his mother.
Everyone believes Paulina's announcement that Hermione is dead, and mourns. King
Leontes is so struck by the news that he orders that the graves of mother and child should
be placed side by side so that he can visit the chapel everyday and weep in sorrow
over their graves. He repents of his cruelty and injustice towards his Queen. Hermione's
infant daughter is declared by Leontes as bastard, ill-gotten out of the adultery of
Hermione with Polixenes. She is ordered to be left at the mercy of the nature at some
forbidden place outside his kingdom. The infant is laid by Antigonus by the coast in
Bohemia. So the tragedy in the first three Acts of the play (Act I-III) is both grim and
horrible. Blasphemy of Leontes results in the death of his beloved son and heir to his
throne and the end of his Queen Hermione. For Hermione it results in sad secluded life for
sixteen years, even though oracle declares her chaste. An honourable woman, daughter of
an Emperor and Queen of Sicilia is forced to lead a miserable life of ignomy and seclusion.
Her son is dead and daughter lost because of irrational and mad jealousy of her
lord, King Leontes. The tragedy for Leontes and Hermione is, thus, horrible and complete
in the first three acts of the play. The Winter's Tale,signifying long grim and severe winter
inEngland.
Second phase
The grim tragedy of the plot in the first three Acts with theme of forgiveness and
reconciliation is to move towards a happy ending in Act IV and Act V. Till the statue scene
Hermione is dead for audience andreaders except Paulina. Paulina alone plans Queen's
false death to teach Leontes long repentance till he is regenerated and realises his cruelty
and injustice towards his virtuous Queen. King Leontes visits the graves of his son and wife
and weeps everyday. After sixteen years of saint-like sorrow, Leontes is redeemed and is
a changed person. Reconciliation . begins. In Fifth Act first Leontes is united with his lost
daughter, Perdita and his friend, King Polixenes and Camillo.
Paulina, then, invites Leontes, his friend King Polixenes, Perdita, Leontes' daughter,
Camillo and Florizel to visit her place to semarvellous life-size statue of Queen Hermione
made by famous Roman sculptor and artist, Julio Romano. All agree to visit Paulina's
secluded place and proceed to witness the statue. Everyone is wonder-struck to see the
beautiful statue of Hermione. Leontes rushes to embrace and kiss the lips of Hermione, but
Paulina stops him on the pretext that the paint is not yet dry, so it will spoil his lips and
the statue. Perdita wants to bow and get her mother's blessings, but again Paulina prevents
her. She suggests that they will have to wait and they will see the statue moving.
Polixenes even notices the wrinkles on the face of Hermione. To that Paulina praises the
master artist who could imagine how Hermione would look after sixteen years. To some the
statue appears like Hermione in white dress as in a dream.
 The statue -is, in fact, Hermione herself standing on a pedestal like a statue. Ultimately,
like a magician. Paulina informs everybody present there that they will see soon the statue
moving. She orders music and with that Hermione steps down the pedestal and moves
towards Leontes and embraces him. She has 'forgiven' King Leontes and to everyone's joy
and surprise, she turns out to be Hermione alive. After that she prays to gods for blessing
her daughter, Perdita. The play, thus, deeply tragic in the first three Acts, in the last two
Acts turns into a wonderful romance or a tragi-comedy.

Comments
Regarding the significance of the scene in the play the opinion of critics is sharply
divided. One set of critics like Charlotte Lennox argue: ".... a mean and absurd contrivance;
for how it can be imagined thatHermione, a virtuous and affectionate wife, would conceal
herself during sixteen years in a solitary house. How ridiculous also is a great Queen, on
so interesting an occasion to submit to such buffoonery as standing on a pedestal,
motionless, her eyes fixed, and at last to be conjured down by a magical command of
Paulina." On the other hand, the theatrical scene is regarded as a marvellous artistic
achievement of Shakespeare in theplay, The Winter's Tale.
Hazlitt praises the scene when Mrs. Siddon played Hermione and acted with true
monumental dignity and noble passion. Dereck Traversi remarks, 'The words of the
reconciled parties at the foot of the statue areas significant in their sequence as in the
thematic content and plain sense; they proceed by an antiphonal building up towards the
final, inclusive harmony." The sequence is given continuity, external projection by the
various successive stages of the plot, by the process of Leentes' slowawakening to the fact
that Hermione herself is before him, and by almost

un-noticeable stages of her coming to life, which corresponds to the definite birth of the new
grace, out of the long winter of his penance.
Victor Hugo praises the scene in which a viewer feels that, "we are present at some magic
invocation by a supernatural power, and at this unexpected resurrection, we feel an
indescribable emotion of wonder andsurprise." The effect of music makes the scene more
awe-inspiring. Goddard observes, "Theatrically, it is a masterpiece of suspense.
Dramatically, it rounds out every character who participate in it. Symbolically, it ties
together all the play has said or suggested concerning the relation of art and nature, and by
implication, of the worlds of reality and romance, of Sicilia and Bohemia."
Conclusion
The scene is a reincarnation of the remarkable scene of Pygmalion. But it is not possible
to suggest how much Shakespeare borrowed from the old Greek story. However, to-date,
the scene remains a subject ofcontroversy amongst the critics. Some praising it as finest piece
of poetry and others regarding it an example of glaring improbability in the play, The
Winter's Tale. Its theatrical effects are unquestionable.